It’s all Floyd Mayweather’s fault. If he weren’t boxing’s biggest attraction, luring Showtime into a six-fight, $250 million contract, people probably wouldn’t be wondering if Saul Canelo Alvarez is damaged goods.

Alvarez faces Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo on Saturday night in a pay-per-view super welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the first fight for Alvarez since suffering his first defeat last September, a one-sided decision to Mayweather in the same ring.

Before losing to Mayweather, Alvarez was considered a rising superstar who might evolve into Mexico’s next Julio Cesar Chavez. But after millions were lost in Mayweather’s comeback fight with Robert Guerrero last May, the popular Alvarez was made the opponent for Mayweather’s second fight of the deal to ensure a profit.

Mayweather-Alvarez became the highest-grossing pay-per-view fight of all-time, earning $150 million from 2.2 million buys. But Mayweather’s dominant performance raised questions about how good Alvarez really is. Was it just Mayweather’s brilliance that made Alvarez look amateurish? Or has Alvarez been carefully matched and overly hyped?

“I learned a lot in that fight. It wasn’t just one thing,” Alvarez said. “We did gain a lot of experience, and that will be noted in my fights in the future once I step into the ring.”

Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) shouldn’t have as much trouble hitting Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs) as he did Mayweather. Saturday’s non-title bout is being called “Toe-to-Toe” in anticipation of a slugfest. Angulo, also a Mexican native, is a come-forward banger who doesn’t have much finesse to his game.

“Style-wise, this is a great matchup for the fans and both of us,” Angulo said. “The fans are going to get a great fight. I’m ready to chase him or fight him like a true Mexican warrior. I plan to test him like he’s never been tested before. I don’t think anyone has ever hit Canelo as hard as I’m going to hit him.”

Alvarez was never really hurt against Mayweather, but if he gets hit often, Angulo’s power can do damage.

“Angulo presents a difficult challenge because he’s a fighter who can punch and take a great punch,” Alvarez said. “I know I have to prepare and establish my game plan early. But you know how it can be with game plans. Sometimes, once a fight starts, you have to do what you have to do win and that’s what I am going to do on Saturday.”

IBF junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) was scheduled to defend his junior middleweight title against Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs), but Molina was arrested in Las Vegas on an outstanding warrant, putting his availability to fight Saturday in jeopardy. If necessary, the bout will be replaced by a 135-pound matchup between Canelo’s older brother, Ricardo Alvarez (23-2-3, 13 KOs), and Sergio Thompson (28-3, 26 KOs).

“I know that Molina wants to fight and I know he has a team behind him which is going to do whatever it can to get him here in time,” said Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.

Angulo had his own legal troubles in 2012 when he spent eight months in an immigration detention center, fearing his boxing career might be in jeopardy.

“There were a couple of times that I wanted to quit,” he said. “But my team of lawyers always motivated me, wouldn’t let me stay down for too long and kept telling me that justice would prevail and that I shouldn’t give up. I’ve always dreamed of being a headliner on a major card and here it is. I am so ready for Saturday.”